Electric field motor



Feb 18, 1941# E. o. SCHWEITZER, JR 2,232,143

ELECTRIC FIELD MOTOR Filed March 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC FIELD MOTOR Edmund 0. Schweitzer, "Jn, Northbrook, Ill.

Application March 23, 1938, Serial No. 197,605

5 Claims. `(Cl. 172-120) My invention relates, generally, to electric motors and it has particular relation to electric field motors. This application is a continuationin-part of my copending application Serial No.

5 136,986, tiled April l5, 1937, now Patent Number 2,216,254, dated Oct. 1, 1940.

An object of my invention is to rotate a member`formed of insulating .material by means of an electric field. l

l Another object of my invention is to generate a shifting electric field for initiating the rotation of a member formed of insulating material.

Still another object of lmy invention is to provide a self-starting synchronous electric ileld l motor.

A further object of my invention is to provide a non-self-starting synchronous electric neld m0- tor.

Aother object of my invention is to employ the capacitive reactance of an electric eld motor -in producing a relatively high voltage for operating the same from a relatively low voltage alternating current source.

When a member formed principally of insulating material is placed under the iniiuence of a rotating electric field, it tends to rotate in the direction of rotation of the electric eld to reduce to a minimum the change in direction of the dielectric strain. There is a tendency for the tubes of force to follow the rotating electric field that generates them and thus the insulating member'tends to follow, since the strain follows the stress. Advantage is taken of this principle in the construction of an electric eld motor.

In one embodiment of my invention one or more discs or a cylinder of insulating material are rotatably mounted and arranged tocooperate with a plurality oi' metallic field plates spaced uniformly therearound. The field plates are en- 40 ergized from an alternating current source in such manner that an electric field is generated which shifts from one eld plate to the next field plate and, thereby, causes rotation of the rotatable insulating element in this shifting field.

When it is desired to cause the rotor to rotate at a synchronous speed, it may be so constructed as to provide a number of polar projections of insulating material. The speed at which itl rotates will bear a iixed relationship to the frequency of. the alternating current source which is employed to energize the field plates.

The shifting electric field can be generated either by employing a polyphase alternating current source, such as a polyphase generator or a phase shifting circuit, as will be readily understood. The shifting electric field may also be generated by providing extensions of insulating material from each of the eld plates which extend in one direction toward the adjacentv field plate. In this case the field plates may be en- 5 ergized from a single phase source of alternating current. y

It is desirable to apply relatively high voltage to the electric field plates in order to operate the motor. Since the motor of the electric ileld type 10 is essentially a capacitor, advantage may be taken of this fact to provide an inductor in series circuit relation with it, the inductive reactance of which is such that when it is combined with the capacitive reactance of the motor, a series resol5 nant circuit results. A relatively low voltage alternating current source can then be employed without the use of other auxiliary equipment to apply the desired high voltage to the motor for energizing it. 20 t My invention is disclosed in detail in the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings. and it comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the 25 constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in 'the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may 30 be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates, diagrammatically, an electric field motor constructed in accordance with 35 one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a view, similar toFigure 1, and in addition showing inductors in the circuit connections;

Figure 3 is a view, similar to that s hown in 40 Figure 2, and in addition showing how capacitors may be connected across the electric eld pieces;

Figure 4 is a view, in top plan, of another embodiment of the electric iield motor;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken generally 45 along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, the base and rotor being shown in elevation;

Figure 6 is a view, in side elevation, of a selfstarting synchronous electric field motor, a portion of one pair of eld members being broken 50 away in order to more clearly illustrate the details of construction;

Figure '7 is a top plan view of the motor shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 illustrates, diagrammatically, a self- 55 liti starting synchronous electric field motor having a shuttle type rotor;

Figure 9 is a View, in front elevation, of a selfstarting synchronous electric field motor having four sets of field plates and a plurality of rotor discs and arranged for single-phase operation;

Figure i is a sectional view taken along the line III-IB of Figure 9;

gure 1l is a detail sectional view taken along the line Ii--II of Figure and Figure l2 illustrates diagrammatically the arrangement that may be employed for providing a non-self-starting synchronous electric field motor.

Referring now particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character Il! designates, generally, an electric iielcl motor having a rotor I! and electric field pieces I2. The rotor I I is formed preferably of an insulating material having a relatively high dielectric constant such as glass, Bakelite, cork, and the like. The electric field pieces I2 may be formed o any suitable conducting material such as brass, copper, or aluminum, and the inner faces adjacent the rotor II Iorrn arcuate Sections of a cylinder the center of which is preferably coaxial with the axis of the rotor I I.

The motor Iii is arranged to be connected by conductors i3 to terminals A, B, and C, which, in turn, may be connected to the polyphase source of alternating current, shown generally at It. While a three-phase generator I4 has been illustrated for generating the polyphase alternating current, it will be understood that any other suitable polyphase generating means may be employed, such as a two-phase generator, a generator in which more than three phases are provided, or a phase shifting circuit that may be energized from a single phase source. It is essential that the terminals A, B, and C have applied thereto a polyphase voltage so that the electric field pieces I2 may be successively energized to generate a shifting electric iield therebetween.

As indicated hereinbefore, an insulator that is subjected to the iniiuence of a rotating electric field tends to rotate in the field in such manner as to reduce to a minimum the change in direction of the dielectric strain therein; the rotor II will thus rotate about its axis when the electric iield pieces are energized as described.

It will be observed that the motor III is essentially a capacitor. Advantage may be taken of this fact to require the application of a relatively small voltage to the terminals A, B, and C by the generator I4 for applying a relatively high voltage to the electric iield pieces I2. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

As illustrated, inductors I1 are interconnected in the conductors I3 which serve to connect the electric field pieces I2 to the terminals A, B and C. No particular source oi' polyphase alternating current is shown connected to these terminals since, as indicated above, any suitable source of polyphase alternating current may be employed. The inductance of the inductors I'I is so chosen that it is substantially equal to the capacitance of the electric iield pieces I2 and the rotor Il so that a series resonant condition is obtained. In this manner a relatively high voltage may be applied .to the electric iield pieces I2 although a relatively low polyphase 'alternating current voltage is applied to the terminals A, B and C. While it will be understood that the inductive reactance of the inductors I1 may not be exactly equal to .the capacitive reactance of the electric neld pieces I2 and the rotor II, it is preferable that this relationship obtain so that the series resonant condition will exist and a minimum of voltage will be required to be applied to the terminals A, B, and C.

In Figure 3 of the drawings I have illustrated a rea-ctance network between the motor I0 and the terminals A, B and C in the form of the inductors I1 and capacitors I8. The capacitors I 8 are connected in Delta circuit relation across the inductors Il or the conductors I3 and across adjacentelectric field pieces I2. The values of inductance and capacitance for the inductors Il and capacitors I8 may be so chosen that the reactance network will function under series resonant conditions. The motor I0, which is connected across the capacitors I8, will then have applied thereto a relatively high polyphase alternating current voltage although a relatively low voltage is applied to the terminals A, B, and C.

While the series resonant circuits, or circuits approaching this condition, are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, as being applicable for practicing my invention, it will be understood that the motor I0 may be energized directly from a suitable polyphase alternating current source, such as the source I 4 shown in Figure l. However, when it is desired to apply a relatively high voltage for operating the motor I0 from a relatively low voltage source, the circuits shown in Figures 2 and 3 may be employed, as indicated.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the reference character 2l designates, generally, another embodiment of the electric field motor. As shown, the motor 2| comprises a. rotor 22 that is made up of a plurality of discs 23 which may be mounted in spaced apart relation on an axle 24. The plates 23 are formed of a suitable insulating material such as glass, porcelain, Bakelite or the like. The axle 2l is also formed of a. suitable insulating material and it is rotatably mounted on a. base plate 25 that also is formed of a suitable insulating material. On opposite sides of and around the discs 23 a plurality of sector-like electric iield plates 2B are positioned as illustrated. The tleld plates 2B are formed of suitable conducting material such as brass, copper, or aluminum and they are mounted on studs 21 that are carried by the base plate 25 and they are spaced apart by suitable metal spacers 2l. Nuts threaded on the upper ends serve to hold the electric field plates 26 in position.

As shown in Figure 4, opposite pairs of electric iield plates 20 are electrically connected together and these pairs are connected by the conductors I3 to the terminals A, B and C. It will be understood that these terminals may have applied thereto a polyphase alternating current voltage as indicated hereinbefore. It will also be understood that the series resonant circuits minals A, B and C are connected to a suitable source of polyphase alternating current. As a result, the discs 23 rotate in order to assume a position of minimum change in dielectric strain.

In Figures 6 and 'I of the drawings, I have illustrated a self-starting single phase synchronous electric ileld motor. This motor is shown generally at 3l. It comprises a suitable frame formed by upper and lower plates 32 and 3 3 of suitable insulating material that are held in spaced apart relation by suitable threaded studs 34. A shaft 33, mounted in adjustable bearing members 33 located, as illustrated, in the upper and lower plates 32 and 33 serves to mount a disc shaped rotor 31 formed of insulating material. As shown more clearly in Figure 7, the discshaped rotor 31 is provided with a plurality of radial slots 33 thereby forming a plurality of sector shaped pole portions 33. In this case eight pole portions 33 are provided. However, it will be understood that a greater or a lesser number may be used as desired.

With a view to providing the electric field for rotating the disc-shaped rotor 31, electric ileld plates 42 are provided on pole members 43. The electric field plates 42 are formed of metal, such as aluminum foil, and may be pasted or otherwise secured to the upper and lower surfaces of the pole members 43. The pole members 43 are formed of insulating material for a purpose that will be presently set forth. The electric neld plates 42 and the pole members 4 3 are mounted on threaded studs 44, as shown, and are spaced apart by spacers 43. Terminal connectors 43, secured to the portions of the studs 44 extending through the lower plate 33, provide for connecting conductors 41 thereto which in turn are connected to a source of alternating current 43. An inductor 43 is provided, as illustrated, so that the series resonant circuit condition may be btained for the purpose set forth hereinbefore.

The shifting electric ileld is generated by reason of the fact that the insulating pole members 43 are provided with polar extensions 33. It will be observed that the polar extensions 33 extend from the pole members 43 in one direction only and toward the next pole member. It will also be observed that the polar extensions 33 are positioned on opposite sides o! the disc-shaped rotor 31 and that they are substantially coextensive with the same.

Preferably, the disc-shaped rotor 31 and the polar extensions 53 are formed of insulating material having a substantialv dielectric hysteresis loss so that there will be a suilicient power component available for applying torque to the rotor 31 for causing it to revolve. When the electric eld plates 42 are energized, as from the single phase alternating current source 33, the electric field spreads from the pole members 43 to the extreme ends of the polar extensions 53 integrally formed therewith. An amount of work is done on the polar extensions 53 in this movement oi the electric ileld which depends upon the magnitude oi' the dielectric hysteresis loss. Thus, as the electric ileld spreads, the dielectric loss adds a power component to the electric ileld so that the electric ileld remote from the iield plates 42 lags behind the electric field adjacent thereto. During each half cycle of the alternating current or during each pulsaton of the electric eld, the axis of the ileld may be considered to shift from the electric field plates 42 out along the polar extensions 33 so that a rotating electric ileld is set up which. corresponds to that which results when a polyphase alternating current source is employed, i. e., as shown in Figure 1. It will be observed, however,

that, when the polar extensions 53 of insulating material are employed only a single phase source 43 is required to provide the rotating electric held rather than a polyphase source.

The disc-shaped rotor 31 is likewise formed of insulating material having substantial dielectric hysteresis loss. It tends to turn because the strain produced therein by the stress of the shifting electric eld traversing the polar extensions 53 tends to follow the change in direction of the stress so that a minimum. of energy will be expended in hysteresis loss. The speed at which the rotor 31 will rotate depends upon the number of sector-shaped pole portions 33 that are present. In Figure 7 of the drawings, eight pole portions 33 are shown. Consequently, the rotor 31 will revolve at a speed of 900 revolutions per minute if the source 43 has a frequency oi' 60 cycles per second.

In Figure 8 of the drawings a motor, designated generally by the reference character 53, is diagrammatically shown. The motor 53 is similar to the motor 3|, shown in Figures 6 and '7. However, it is provided with a shuttle type of rotor 34 having only two polar projections rather than eight pole portions as is the case for the rotor 31. With a 60-cycle source the rotor 34 will be caused to rotate at a speed of 3,600 revolutions per minute.

In Figures 9 and 10 another embodiment of the self-starting single-phase synchronous electric iieid motor is shown. The motor 3| is provided with a frame formed by upper and lower plates* 32 and 33 of suitable insulating material. The plates 32 and 33 are spaced apart by studs 34.

Between the plates 32 and 33 a shaft 35 is rotatably mounted in a threaded bearing member 33 in the upper plate 32 and on a bearingfstud 31 carried by the lower plate 33. As shown more clearly in Figure 11 a plurality of rotor discs 33 are mounted on the shaft 35 and spaced apart by spacers 33. The rotor discs 33 are provided with radial slots 13, thereby forming sectorshaped pole portions 1I, Figure 10.

'Ihe stator for the rotor discs 33 is formed in part by electric ileld plates 13 mounted on the pole members 14. As described hereinbefore, the ileld plates 13 may be formed of aluminum foil and pasted onto the pole members 14, which are formed of insulating material. The field plates 13 and pole members 14 are suitably mounted on threaded studs 15 which are carried by the lower plate 33. They are spaced apart by spacers 13.

With a view to shifting the axis of the electric iield from each of the electric field plates in the direction in which it is desired to rotate the rotor discs 33, the pole members 14 are provided with polar extensions 11, Figure 10, which act in the manner described hereinbefore when the eld plates are energized from a single phase alternating current source.

When the motor construction shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11 is employed, the rotor formed by the discs 33 will run at a speed of 900 revolutions per minute. It will be understood, of course, that while only three rotor discs 33 have been illustrated, a larger number may be employed. The larger the number of rotor discs 33 that is used the less will be the applied voltage necessary to satisfactorily operate the motor. It will be understood that opposite sets of electric field plates le will be connected together and to one terminal of the single phase alternating current source.

in Figure l2 of the drawings I have illustrated a non-self-starting synchronous electric field motor. The reference character 8i designates, generally, this motor. it comprises one or more rotor discs 82 of insulating material having radial slots 83 therein forming sectorshaped pole portions 84 therebetween. Sectorshaped electric field plates 85, formed of metal, are provided for connection to the source of alternating,r current da'. in this embodiment of the invention the polar extensions are omitted so that the shifting electric field is not generated. it is necessary to bring the rotor S2 up to synchronous speed by some means such as manually spinning it in order to permit it to operate at synchronous speed.

in Figure l2 the motor Si is provided witha rotor having eight pole portions 84 and a stator having eight electric field plates This motor will run at a speed o 90d revolutions per minute.

Since certain further changes may be made in the foregoing constructions and dilierent embodiments or the invention may be made with out departing from the scope therese", it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings or described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

claim as my invention:

l. An electric eld motor comprising, in combination, a rotor formed ofv insulating material radially slotted to provide a polar construction, a plurality of metallic electric field plates disposed in insulated spaced relation around said rotor, and circuit means for connecting said field plates to a source of alternating current whereby said rotor operates at a speed which is fixed with respect to the frequency of said source of alternating current,

2. A self-starting synchronous alternating current motor comprising, in combination, a rotor formed of insulating material radially slotted to provide a polar construction, a plurality of metallic electric eld plates disposed in insulated spaced relation around said rotor for connection to a sourceof alternating current, and means for generating an electric field shifting from each ileld plate toward the next field t tending in one direction from at least one of said field plates toward the adjacent field plate to continuously shift the axis of the electric flux in each pulsation from its initial position with respect to at least said one field plate whereby said rotor is started from rest in the direction in which said insulating means extends.

4. A self-starting synchronous alternating current motor comprising, in combination, a disc-shaped rotor having insulating material having substantial dielectric hysteresis loss with a plurality of radial slots forming a polar construction, a plurality of pairs of metallic electric field plates disposed in insulated spaced rclation around said disc-shaped rotor and on opposite sides thereof for connection to a source of alternating current, and insulating means having substantial dielectric hysteresis loss extending in one direction from at least one of said eld plates toward the adjacent field plate to continuously shift the axis of the electric flux in each pulsation from its initial position with respect to at least said one field plate whereby said rotor is started from rest in the direction in which said insulating means extends.

5. In an electric motor, in combination, means for generating an alternating electric field, and a rotor rotatably mounted in said iield and formed of insulating material radially slotted to provide a polar construction wherein polar dielectric strains are produced, the interaction between said electric field and said polar dielectric strains because o! said polar construction causing rotation of said insulating means in synchronism with the frequency of said alternating electric eld.

EDMUND O. SCHWEITZER, Jn. 

